Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday morning and evening, Feb. 2, 2003, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia.
BIBLE-BELIEVING FUNDAMENTALISTS BELIEVE IN SOUL-WINNING
By Michael D. O’Neal Pastor, Gospel Light Baptist Church Albany, Georgia
Scripture Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:17-21
Text: 2 Corinthians 5:20
2 Corinthians 5:20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.
Introduction: A Bible-believing fundamentalist believes the Bible he holds in his hand is God’s inspired, inerrant, infallible word. He holds certain grand truths of that Bible to be FUNDAMENTAL and makes those truths qualifications for fellowship. One of those fundamentals is expressed in our scripture reading this morning. It is the wonderful truth of
SOUL-WINNING
This doctrine is non-negotiable. It is not a secondary doctrine; it is PRIMARY. It is not INCIDENTAL; it is FUNDAMENTAL. A person who doesn’t make soul-winning a major part of his theology, thinking, and task as a Christian has his emPHASis on the wrong syLLABle.
Paul told us to follow him, as he followed Christ, in 1 Cor. 11:1, and his life was given to winning souls:
Acts 20:20-21 And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house, 21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
I. WE BELIEVE IN THE PEOPLE OF SOUL-WINNING
1 Corinthians 1:21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
Acts 10 – not an angel for Cornelius, but Peter
The soul-winners that God uses are:
A. God’s people
- I often hear of people claiming to win souls before they were “really” saved, but that experience is not found in the Bible.
- God didn’t let the angel of Acts 10 tell Cornelius how to be saved; He used Peter.
B. Glad people
- We are GLAD!
- We have glad tidings! Good news!
C. Grateful people
II. WE BELIEVE IN THE PREPARATION FOR SOUL-WINNING
Matthew 4:19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
A child of God who is not a soul-winner should:
A. Get the right emphasis
B. Get the right education
C. Get the right Educator
III. WE BELIEVE IN THE POWER FOR SOUL-WINNING
Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
The Holy Spirit supplies the power for soul-winning; the power of:
A. Courage
- Look at Peter before and after the coming of the Holy Ghost
B. Communication
C. Conviction
IV. WE BELIEVE IN THE PLAN FOR SOUL-WINNING
John 15:16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
A. Send up your prayers
- Pray for boldness
- Pray before you go
B. Step out by faith
- Go … Go … GO!!
C. Speak forth the word of life
V. WE BELIEVE IN THE PLACE FOR SOUL-WINNING
Acts 20:20 And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house,
Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
I was called before my division officer and then the Base chaplain when I was in the Navy, for witnessing to people on the Base. They thought that church was the “appropriate” place for converting people.
Well, there are really only two places where we should be witnessing:
A. Public places
- Sunday School
- Church Services
- Restaurants
- Gas stations
B. Private places – homes
Go any place and every place!
VI. WE BELIEVE IN THE PREACHING FOR SOUL-WINNING
Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Gospel preaching should be
A. Complete
- I’m not talking about the four-sided gospel of A.B. Simpson; I’m talking about the three-part gospel of 1 Corinthians 15:3-4!
- Most “full gospel” advocates don’t even know where the full gospel is found in scripture or even what it is!
B. Clear
C. Compassionate – Psalms 126:5-6
VII. WE BELIEVE IN THE PROMISE OF SOUL-WINNING
Psalms 126:5-6 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. 6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.
Galatians 6:7-9 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. 9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.